Oil well cementing packer



Dec. 7, 1954 H. M. GREENE o'IL WELL CEMENTING PACKER Filed May 15 INVENTOR A77 Toe/Vey:

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tions are particularly characterized by unique bore sealthel main portion of the container. sure takes the form of a removable nose portion attached with the well bore.

2,696,258 onJ WELL CEMENTING PACKER Haskell M. Greene, Whittier, Calif. Application May 1s, 195o, serial No. 161,986

16 claims. (Cl.1666s) y This invention relates generally to well tools and coni cerns particularly improved apparatus for depositing cement in a given zone within a well bore.

The present invention represents an improvement on ff'fmy-.copending application Ser. No. 770,239, now Patent No. 2,591,807, in which I have disclosed a method and tool for depositing cement in a predetermined zone within a well bore by the force of an explosive or gas Both the above and present invening means adapted for expansion by the cement displacg gases to plug the well bore above` the zone being cemented and thus seal the bore against upward disslpation of the force of those gases. the entire force of the gases is directed against the cement `rto vastly increase the overall effectiveness of the cement- In this manner, virtually ling operation while permitting the use of a considerably smaller gas generating charge than has heretofore been required.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a cementing tool of the above character especially :adapted to be retrieved after a cementing operation in a condition to be recharged with cement and gas generating material and used again. For this purpose, I provide 1mproved bore plugging means so formed as to only temporarily expand during an operation and to then return to a contracted condition after the force f the actuatlng gases diminishes. The tool may thus be easily lowered and raised with the eXpansible plug in its contracted condition and free of any engagement with the bore wall.

Particularly contemplated for sealing the bore is a novel resilient packer element, preferably in the form of a tubular rubber sleeve, adapted for expanslon and contraction in accordance with the pressures as its opposite sides.

In order to permit reuse of the portion of the tool within which the body of cement is contained, yI may provide the cement container with a closure specially formed to be opened by the force of the cement displacing gases to permit outward flow of the cement without harm to Preferably, thiscloto the lower -end of the cement container by means pre- Y formed to shear in response to the force of the generated gases. l

Further features of the invention lnvolve lmproved means for mounting the gas producing charge to the body l ofthe tool in a manner facilitating recharging of the tool "'while serving also to direct the gases most eiciently `against the body of cement. For this purpose, I prefer to employ a unique combustion or explosion chamber serving in effect as a gas gun removably mounted to the upper yend of the tool body and directing the gases produced upon ignition of a contained charge downwardly against a lower body of cement. The resulting gases, in

passing between the gas gun and cement, may be directed f' through the previously mentioned tubular packer sleeve United States Patent O 2,696,258 Patented Dec. 7, 1954 ice and particularly if the lower discharge end of the tool is for any reason plugged. For this purpose, I provide one or more outwardly seating check valves in the wall of the tool acting to prevent outward flow of the gases of combustion from within the tool lwhile permitting an inward ow of well fluid after the pressures within the tool have diminished.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following 0 detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated g side of the cementing tool after the cementing operation?,

kcharge downwardly against the body of cement.

in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a preferred form of cementing tool ernbodying the invention and positioned within a well bore prior to a cementing operation.

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. l but showing the tool during the cementing operation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the gas gun of the device; and

Fig. 4 is the transverse section through the lower end of the tool and showing particularly the method of mounting its lower nose portion.

The cementing apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be used in any of the numerous situations where it may be desirable to deposit a body of cement in a given zone within a well bore. I have typically illustrated the situation where it is desired to close oli? a water area 13 communicating with a well through perforations 12 in casing 11.

The preferred form of cementing tool 10 comprises essentially a tubular vertically extending body formed in three threadedly interconnected sections 14a, 14b and 14C and containing a body of cement 15, a gas gun 16 carried bythe upper end of the tool body and acting to direct the gases generated by a contained charge down- Awardly through the body and against the cement, and a tubular packer sleeve 17 adapted to be radially expanded against the well bore casing to form a seal preventing upward dissipation of the actuating gases.

The lower tubular portion 14a of the tool body serves to conta-in the body of cement 15 to be deposited Within the well. The lower end of this cement containeris closed by a downwardly tapering nose member 18, which is attached to the body in a manner assuring retention of the cement during lowering of the tool while permitting the nose member to be blown downwardly from the body upon ignition of the gas generating charge. For this purpose, cement container 14a may carry a pair of inwardly projecting pins 19 receivable within bayonet slots 20 at the top of the nose member. When the gas producing charge is ignited and exerts a downward force on the body of cement, the material of the nose members shears or tears at 21 to the condition Vof Fig. 2, per- `mitting downward expulsion of the nose member and downward and outward displacement of the body of cement.

The portion 14b of the tool body above cement container 14a carries a number of outwardly seating check valves 22 serving to prevent outward escape of the cement displacing gases through the wall of the body while permitting an inward flow of well fluid into the body when the pressure within the body is reduced below that at its outside. These valves may be of essentially conven tional ball check valve construction, as shown, comprising spherical valve elements free for limited movement within cages 122 toward and away from seats 222.

The upper tubular portion 14a of the body is perforated at 23 to permit outward flow of the generated gases against packer sleeve 17. This packer sleeve is formed of rubber or similar resilient material and is peripherally clamped by bands 24 at its opposite ends to the end portions of perforated body section 14a. The packer sleeve is thus radially expansible to the condition of Fig. 2 by the gases and is then resiliently returnable to the condition of Fig. l when the pressure within the tool returns to normal.

The gas gun or tiring chamber 16 comprises a cylindrical metallic vertically extending body containing an ignitible charge 31 and closed at its upper end by a transverse wall 27 serving to direct the gases produced by the The charge is retained and positioned within the chamber gas generating charge.

by means of 'the contacts that conduct electrical current v'to-its innerignition fuse33. -Speciiically,'a^lirst electrical lead extends through upper wall 27 of the chamber and carries within the chamber a socket contact 29 having :resilent fingers adapted to. grip .an uppervtcontact knob 30 on. they gasaproducing charge 31. AAlso, ythe. charge carries a number of circularlyy spaced `outer Contact `wires 432. 'engageable' with Ythe inner lwall ofthe chamber and :acting .to both -frictionally retain and laterally position `.thecharge Though it is contemplated that charge 31 may comprise any of various combustible orexplosive materials, i preferablyemploy a composition characterized by a capacity to Vproduce a relatively prolonged pressureand temperature surge rather than a sharp instantaneous explosion, `tothus erectively force the Icement from the container; and into the well zone without'danger or rupturing the tool body itself.

In order to assure that'no well fluid or other un Vrwanted moisture 'will reach charge 31, thev lower end of chamber 1'6 is closed and sealed by a rubber disc 34 andan` aluminum disc 35, both of which are retained to the chamber by upsetting the metal of the barrel at 36.

.The chamber'is connected into the upper end of perforated body sectionl V14C by means of an annular threaded member 37 received about its upper end and vclamped between an outer shoulder 26 on the chamber and a retaining nut.28. Member 37 is threadedly connected to a tubular adapter 39 which in turn Vis suitably attached to the upper end of the tool, as by connection to adapter 39, to support the tool within a well.

`'In preparing the tool for use, lower nose member 18 is` first attached to the lower end of cement container 14a by means of bayonet connection 19-20. Chamber 16 -is then removed from the upper end of the tool as per- 'mitted by its threaded mounting, and cement is filled .then be applied to the lower end of chamber 16 to seal Lit against the entrance of any well Huid after which the 'chamber is mounted to the upper end of the body as shown.

`The tool is lowered into the well to the zone to be l`cemented, in this case the water area 13, and an electrical circuit is then closed at ground level to introduce i 'current to ignition fuze 33 through contacts 29 and 32 to thus ignite charge 31. The gases produced by charge "31 open discs 34 and 35 and are directed downwardly by chamber 16 against the body of cement 15. Of course the upper and side walls of the tiring chamber or gas gun 16,^in order to carry out their gas directing function, are adapted to withstand without rupture the force of the The increase of pressure within the tool forces packer sleeve 17 outwardly to its Fig. 2 condition to seal off the casing against upward uid flow vandsimultaneously force the cement downwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the `tool body. As

previously brought out, the connection between nose member 18 and the cement containing portion of the body `is sheared by the force ofthe explosive to permit downward and outward flow of the cement. The eXtreme pressure squeezes out substantially all of the moisture from 'the cement and, together with the heating of the cement by the generated gases, causes it to set instantly. As the pressure within the tool diminishes after an operation,

packer sleeve 17 resiliently returns to its normal condition of Fig. l, permitting removal of the tool from the well, and check valves 22 permit inward passage `of well fluid into the tool toequalize the pressures at the opposite sides of the tool body. The tool may be prepared for reuse by merely attaching a new nose member v18 to the lower end of the body, filling a. new charge of cement into the body and inserting a new gas producing charge into the gas gun 16.

I claim: l.v Apparatus for depositing cement in a zone within a well bore comprising a vertically elongated container,

' a body of cement in said container, a gas generating 'charge adapted upon ignition to displace the cement through a lower outlet in thev container andinto said zone,p1ugging means carried by the container above 'said zone and adapted to be urged against the well bore by the yforce'of the charge to seal `the boreagainst--upward dissipation of said force, 1.a closure retaining the cement against discharge throughsaid lower container outlet, and means attaching said closure to the container and preformed to be sheared by the force of the charge to permit bodily opening of the closure and flow of the cement into said zone.

2. Apparatus for depositing cement in a zone within a well bore comprising avertically elongated container, a body of cement in said container, agas generating charge adapted upon ignition to displace the cement through a bottom voutlet in thecontainerand into said zone, plugging means carried by the container above said zone and adaptedto be urged againstthe well bore by the force of the charge to seal the bore against upward dissipation of said force, a tapered nose member closing said bottom outlet of the container to retain the cement against downward! ilow ther`efrom,;y and .1 a'bayonetf connection' between said`l container and.l nosememberi preformed to be sheared'by theforce of the. charge to-permit said downward ilowiof .the'cemenu 3. Apparatus for4 depositing l*cement v:inrazone lwithin a well bore comprising a vertically' elongated container, a body of .cement vin-said container,.:acgas generating charge adapted upon'ignition to .displace 'they cement from ythe lower endof the containenand intowsaid zone, plugging means carried by the container.above.'said1zone and adapted to be urged'against 4the wellk boref by the force of the chargeto seal the bore against upward `dissipation of said force, and a check valve in they wall lof the container at a location above said lowerend thereof for preventing outward low yof* gases from the container at that location While permitting inward ow of well uid thereinto.

4. Apparatus for depositing cement in afrzone within a well bore comprising a vertically elongated tubular body having a lower portion adapted to contain a'body of cement and having an upper perforatedportiom means for mounting a gas generating charge within. said. body above the cement to serve upon `ignition to..displace-.the cement downwardly through the lower end offsaid container and into said zone, and a tubular resilient. packer sleeve carried about said perforated portion of the body and peripherally clamped thereto at its opposite ends, said packer being resiliently expansible against the 'bore wall by the force ofl the` charge Itofseal the borer againstrfupward dissipation of `said force, and being resiliently conjtractible away from said bore upon the reduction-of-said orce.

5. Apparatus for depositing cement in .a` zonevwithin a well bore comprisinga verticallycelongated.tubular body having a lower portion adapted to contain a body of cement and having an upper,y perforatedsportion, a chamber removably carried by the upper end of saidfbody for containing a gas generating charge andserving upon ignition of the ycharge to direct the produced gases. downwardlythrough the bodyv to displace thecement.. downwardly through the lower end ofv said container. andy into said zone, and a tubular resilient. packer sleeve carried about said perforated portion of the body arid-peripherally clamped thereto at its oppositeends, said, packer being resiliently expansible against the bore wall by the force of the charge to seal the bore against upward dissipation of said force, and being resiliently contractible away from said bore upon. the reduction of said force.

6. Apparatus for depositing cement in aA zone within a well bore comprising a vertically elongated tubular body having a lower portion adaptedtto contain a body of cement and having an upper perforated portion, a chamber removably carried by the upper end of said body for containing a gas generating-charge and serving upon ignition of the charge to vdirect the producedgases downwardly through the lower end of said container and into said Zone, a tubular. resilient packer sleeve carried about said perforated portion of the body and peripherally clamped thereto at its opposite ends, said packer being resiliently eXpansible against the bore wall by the force of the charge to' seal the bore against upward dissipation of said force, andbeing resiliently contractible away from said bore upon the' reduction of said force, a closure for the bottom of said body retaining ythe cement against ow'downwardly therethrough, means attaching said closure to the body-andpreformed to be sheared bythe forceoftheVv charge topermit saidfdownward ow of cement, and a check valve inthe wall of said body at the upper end of said lower imperforate portion thereof acting to prevent gas ow outwardly from within the body while permitting inward fluid ow.

7. Apparatus for depositing cement in a zone within a well bore comprising a body for containing cement und adapted to be lowered to said zone, a chamber removably mounted to said body above the contained cement and adapted to contain a gas generating charge, said chamber comprising a tubular vertically extending side wall and a transverse top wall rigidly carried thereby serving to direct the gases produced upon ignition of a contained charge downwardly against the cement to displace the cement from the body and into said zone, said walls being constructed to withstand without rupture the force of agas generating charge sufficiently strong to displace the cement from the body, means including a disc for closing and sealing the lower end of said chamber and adapted to be opened by the force of said gases, and plugging means carried by the body above said zone adapted to be urged against the well bore by the force of the charge to seal the bore against upward dissipation of said force.

8. Apparatus for depositing a well treating material in a zone within a well bore comprising a body adapted to be lowered to said zone and adapted to contain a mass of well treating material, a gas producing charge carried by the body adapted to produce large quantities of pressurized gases at a location to displace the material from said container and against the well bore wall at said zone, means for tiring said charge, and a packer unit carried by said body having an essentially annular portion formed of flexible material in communication with said gas producing charge and adapted to be expanded against the bore wall by the force of said pressurized gases at a location to seal the bore against upward dissipation of said gas force, said body being closed to communication of said gas pressure to the well bore wall above said packer, and said body including means adapted to pass said well treating material from the body to the exterior thereof beneath said packer upon ring of said charge.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8, in which said body has a lower portion for containing said well treating material, and has an upper tubular portion with an apertured side wall, said packer unit comprising a tubular resilient radially expansible packer disposed about said apertured upper portion of the body.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9, including a downwardly opening gun chamber within said upper tubular portion of the body and containing said gas producing charge, said gun chamber comprising wall means deining upwardly extending sides of said chamber and substantially closing its upper end and serving to direct the gases produced by said charge downwardly, said wall means being constructed to withstand without rupture the force of said charge fired therein, said means for passing said material to the exterior of the body comprising a bottom closure for the body preformed to be opened by the force of said gas producing charge.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 8, in which said last mentioned means comprise a bottom closure for the body preformed to be opened by the force of said gas producing charge.

12. Apparatus comprising a body adapted to be lowered into a well, a downwardly opening gas gun chamber carried by said body and adapted to receive a gas producing charge for discharging large quantities of gases under pressure, means for tiring said charge, a packer carried by said body in communication with said gas producing charge and adapted to be expanded against the bore wall by the force 'of said pressurized gases at a location to seal the bore against upward dissipation of the gas force, said body being open to communication of the pressure of said gases to the well bore wall beneath said packer, and being closed to communication of said gas pressure to the bore wall above said packer, and said gas gun chamber comprising wall means deiining upwardly extending sides of said chamber and substantially closing its upper end and serving to direct the gases produced by said charge downwardly, said wall means being constructed to withstand without rupture the force of a charge iired therein and producing gases acting against the well bore wall beneath the packer.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim l2 in which said body has a lower portion for containing a mass of well treating material at a location to be displaced from the body and against the well bore wall beneath the packer by the force of said gases, said lower portion of the body including means adapted to pass said well treating material from the body to the exterior thereof upon firing of said charge. f

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said body has a tubular essentially vertically extending portion with an apertured side wall and disposed about said gas gun, and said packer comprises a tubular resilient expansible packer element disposed about said apertured portion of the body and peripherally fastened lthereto in sealing relation at two vertically spaced locations.

15. Apparatus comprising a body adapted to be lowered into a well, a gas producing charge carried by said body and adapted to discharge large quantities of gases under pressure, means for actuating said charge to discharge said gases, a packer unit carried by said body having an essentially annular portion formed of flexible material in communication with said gas producing charge and adapted to be expanded against the bore wall by the force of said pressurized gases at a location to seal the bore against upward dissipation of said gas force, said body being open to communication of the pressure of said gases to the well bore Wall beneath said packer, and being closed to communication of said gas pressure to the bore wall above said packer.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim l5, in which said body has a tubular essentially vertically extending portion with an apertured side wall, and substantially closed at its upper end, and said packer unit comprises a tubular resilient expansible packer element disposed about said apertured portion of the body.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,588,643 Alexander June 15, 1926 1,734,670 Greene Nov. 5, 1929 2,233,930 Witt Mar. 4, 1941 2,373,006 Baker s Apr. 3, 1945 2,519,116 Crake Aug. 15, 1950 2,523,608 Bell Sept. 26, 1950 

